Bottle-feeding can be tricky as the amount of formula your baby needs varies by age, weight, and feeding habits. Newborns may need different amounts than older babies, especially if you’re combining formula with breastfeeding or solid foods. Recognising hunger cues, such as sucking motions or fussiness, and knowing when your baby is full will help guide you in providing the right amount of formula for their needs. For a rough guide, take a look at our baby formula feeding chart.
Key Takeaways
- Baby’s formula intake depends on age, weight, and feeding habits.
- Pay attention to hunger cues like sucking motions and fussiness to know when to feed.
- As your baby grows and starts solid foods, their formula needs will change.
If you’re bottle-feeding it can be confusing trying to work out how much formula milk your baby needs every day. And there’s no single answer. It depends on your baby’s age, weight, and whether you’re feeding them only formula, or giving it alongside breastmilk or solid foods.
“Bottle-feeding isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your baby’s needs change as they grow,” says health visitor and BabyCentre expert Helen Davies. “Learning their hunger and fullness cues will help you get the right balance, whether you’re exclusively formula-feeding or mixing with breastfeeding or solids.”
The right amount of formula for a newborn is different if you’re breastfeeding too and different again to how much formula a six-month-old needs. However, knowing the signs that your baby is hungry and the signs that they are getting enough formula milk can help.
Bottle-feeding isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your baby’s needs change as they grow. Learning their hunger and fullness cues will help you get the right balance.– Helen Davies, health visitor
Formula-feeding: how will I know when my baby is hungry?
Your formula-fed baby’s appetite will vary from day to day and month to month, so try to let them set the pace. Your baby will feed as often as they need to, as long as you learn to spot their cues and respond to them.
Signs that your baby is hungry include:
- making sucking motions
- bringing their hands to their mouth
- smacking or licking their lips
- moving their head in search of food (rooting)
- becoming fussy
- crying
Crying is a late sign of hunger and it can make feeding more difficult for both of you. So always try to feed your baby before they cry.
It may take time before you’re aware of all your baby’s feeding cues. This is completely normal, so try not to worry if you miss them at first. Once you get to know your baby’s cues, you can respond to them quicker, making feeding much easier for you both.
When you’re feeding your baby, keep a watch for signs that they’ve had enough, such as slowing down or resting. These pauses give your baby time to feel whether or not they’re full.
How do I use the time I spend bottle-feeding to bond with my baby? (Video)
How much infant formula should I give my baby based on their body weight?
There’s a rough guide based on your baby’s body weight that you can use to work out how much formula to give. This only applies though if you don’t breastfeed as well as bottle-feed and your baby isn’t eating solid foods yet.
Most full-term babies need between 150ml and 200ml of formula per kilogram of their body weight every day. So, if your baby weighs 3kg, they’ll probably need between 450ml and 600ml of formula over a 24-hour period to satisfy their hunger. However, they may want less than this in the first week or so, as they will only have a tiny tummy.
These measurements are a rule of thumb. Just as your appetite varies with each meal, your baby isn’t going to take exactly the same amount at each feed. So don’t force your baby to finish a bottle, even if there is only a little bit left.
If your baby has been prescribed a specialised formula, check with your GP or health visitor on how much you should offer each day.
How will formula feeding change in their first six months?
How much formula your baby needs depends not only on their weight, but also on their age. During their first six months, your baby’s formula needs will change. It’s best to follow the instructions on the packet of formula and look out for the signs that your baby is hungry. However, our infant formula feeding chart below can give you a rough idea.
| Age | Approximate amount per feed | Number of feeds per 24 hours | Total volume per 24 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn (0-2 weeks) | 60-70 ml (2-2.5 oz) | 7-8 feeds | 420-560 ml (14-19 oz) |
| 2 weeks to 2 months | 75-105 ml (2.5-3.5 oz) | 6-7 feeds | 450-735 ml (15-25 oz) |
| 2-6 months | 105-210 ml (3.5-7 oz) | 5-6 feeds | 525-1260 ml (18-42 oz) |
| 6 months | 210-240 ml (7-8 oz) | 4 feeds | 900-1000 ml (30-34 oz) |
What are the signs that my baby’s getting enough formula?
Generally your baby’s weight gain and their wet and dirty nappies should let you know that they’re getting enough formula.
Your baby will be weighed at birth and then again in their first week. After that, they’ll usually be weighed at eight weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks and 12 months. Your health visitor will check how well they’re gaining weight or you can bring them to a baby weighing clinic. Their results will be recorded in their red book. You can also use our baby growth chart to see how well your baby is growing between appointments.
Your baby should have at least six wet nappies a day after the first few days, with pale and mild-smelling wee. They will usually have at least one soft poo a day. Overall though, if they seem settled and satisfied after feeds, it’s likely that your baby is getting enough milk to satisfy their needs.
BabyCentre Community members share their experiences
- “It depends on the day. Today she has had small snacks frequently so hasn’t drunk more than 60ml at a time 🙄 Yesterday she was going every 3hrs and downing bottles. It’s a minefield!”
- “I prefer to make smaller bottles and get another bottle if needed.”
- “I’ve had two 9lb+ babies. My first was on around 5oz every 4 hours at 1 month and my second was having 3-4oz every 3 hours at 1 month. Every baby is different so try not to compare. If you’re concerned speak to your health visitor.”
Read more formula feeding experiences from parents in our BabyCentre Community.
Formula-feeding and solid foods at six months
When you introduce your baby to solids at about six months, they won’t be eating a wide enough variety of foods to give them all the nutrients they need. So it’s important to carry on giving your baby formula milk until they are a year old.
Once your baby is fully established on solids, they’ll need about 600ml of formula every day alongside a varied diet. If they’re drinking less than 500ml of formula per day it’s best to also give them a vitamin supplement.
You may like to offer a feed at breakfast, lunch, dinner and just before bedtime. You can cut out one of these feeds once your baby is around 10 months or so.
However, all babies are different. Try not to worry if your little one doesn’t want as much milk as they used to. You can always offer milky foods made from formula from six months instead, as part of their balanced diet. This could include custard, cheese sauce, rice pudding and natural yoghurt.
How much formula should you give your baby?
Should I offer my baby a hungry milk or growing up milk?
Hungry milks are marketed as infant formulas that can help babies feel fuller for longerm because they take longer to digest. However, there isn’t a lot of good evidence that this is true.
Growing-up milks are marketed for babies from six months old because they contain added iron, which growing babies need. However, these milks are not nutritionally necessary as they offer no real advantages over standard formula milks.
Your baby will still get all the iron and nutrients they need from their usual formula, along with a healthy, balanced diet of solid foods. If your baby is happy with their usual formula, there’s no need to switch, unless your health visitor or GP recommends it.
When can I swap from formula milk to cow’s milk?
After your baby’s first birthday, they can move from drinking formula to pasteurised whole or semi-skimmed cow’s milk.
Offer your baby around 350ml to 400ml of cow’s milk every day. This can be with meals, as a bedtime drink, or with cereal.
Bear in mind that these are only rough guidelines, and your baby will let you know if they’re getting too much or too little milk. If you’re not sure, talk to your health visitor.
More on baby and toddler drinks:
- Should I give my baby fruit and vegetable juice? How much?
- Should I give my seven-month-old drinks in a beaker or a bottle?
- Does my formula-fed baby need extra water?
- When can I stop sterilising my baby’s bottles?
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Breastfeeding is best. Follow-on milk is for age 6 months+ as part of a mixed diet. Speak to a medical professional.
